Big Guns
Page 26
The logic was, of course, strained. But Justice Scallion hadn’t come all this way to a hear a pleading. He wanted to play golf. He wanted to breathe the refreshing air. Exercise his atrophied muscles. Test out his putter—the golf kind—with the flirtatious Mrs. Schwartzman, before returning to those stultifying chambers, mind-numbing cases, and those mummies wrapped in black robes and propped up on the bench. He knew Sid Schwartzman wouldn’t rest his case. He might even be overheard and misinterpreted as prejudicing His Honor’s honor. So he leaned low into Sid and softly rendered his verdict: “I understand.”
Then sliced—far to the right.
EPILOGUE
After failing to win a single state other than Illinois in the Democratic presidential primary, Mayor Michael Rodriguez was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he busily spends most of his days thumping his leg.
Otis Cogsworth is a trustee of the Jack Steele Foundation, which generously funds a variety of not so worthy causes, including Armed Airline Pilots & Passengers Association (AAPPA), Priests Who Pack, and a synagogue firearms education course called Shabbat Shoot-out.
Ralph Kellogg and Bobby Reilly continue to serve time. In Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Ralph was elected president of the inmate council.
Sam Gergala left Asabogue to farm twenty acres of potatoes in Iowa. He plans to leave before the next Iowa presidential caucus. Sid Schwartzman continues to acquire media properties,thanks to the invaluable assistance of his daughter, Summer Schwartzman, who was appointed FCC commissioner during President Henry Piper’s second term.
Frank Piermont lost his Speakership in a coup led by Whip Fred Stinson. He consoles himself with $150,000 speeches between visits to golf resorts.
Roy Dirkey served two terms in Congress before being elected governor of Arkansas. He’s married to Sarah Backfury-Dirkey. They have five children and summer residences in New Hampshire and Iowa.
Lois Liebowitz ran for Congress in what pundits regarded as the most competitive race in America. The outcome was decided by a razor-thin vote. It’s all in the sequel.
Sunny McCarthy retired from lobbying to write an exposé on the gun industry. Originally entitled Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist, it was renamed Big Guns. Sunny continues to write in a beach cottage on eastern Long Island. Near her mother. But not too near.
William Overbay is still in Congress, where not much has changed.
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About Steve Israel
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About Steve Israel
STEVE ISRAEL served in the US House of Representatives from 2001 to 2017, representing the 3rd Congressional District of New York. He is the author of two novels: The Global War on Morris and Big Guns.
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This is an Apollo book. First published in the UK in 2018 by Head of Zeus Ltd
Copyright © Steve Israel, 2018
The moral right of Steve Israel to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN (HB): 9781788544283
ISBN (TPB): 9781788544290
ISBN (E): 9781788544276
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